US Open awards: Match of the tournament, most bizarre moment, best newcomer and more
With the New York tournament all wrapped up, we take a look back at the action from Flushing Meadows
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Your support makes all the difference.Match of the tournament: Rafael Nadal’s 0-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-7, 7-6 victory over Dominic Thiem in the quarter-finals was a high-tempo match full of great shot-making
Shot of the tournament: Nikoloz Basilashvili scurried forward to chase down a Rafael Nadal shot which had clipped the top of the net. Having done brilliantly to get there, the Georgian showed exquisite touch to play a delicate cross-court winner
Best newcomer: It might be pushing a point to describe the Indian Wells champion as a newcomer, but Naomi Osaka had never gone beyond the fourth round of a Grand Slam competition until last week. She won the title in only her 11th appearance in a Grand Slam tournament
Biggest upset: There were plenty in the women’s tournament but possibly none greater than Garbine Muguruza’s defeat by the world No 202, Karolina Muchova, who had come through qualifying
Biggest disappointment: Once again Alexander Zverev gave a below-par performance in a Grand Slam tournament. The No 4 seed was beaten in four sets in the third round by Philipp Kohlschreiber
Best British moment: Andy Murray returning to Grand Slam competition after a break of 14 months and winning his first match
Worst British moment: Kyle Edmund, who has been Britain’s best performer in Murray’s absence, went out in lacklustre fashion in the first round against the 36-year-old Italian, Paolo Lorenzi
Saddest farewell: Playing in his last Grand Slam tournament, David Ferrer had to retire because of injury in the second set of his third-round match against Rafael Nadal
Best comeback: Taylor Fritz was outplayed by Mischa Zverev in the first round but rallied to beat the German 4-6, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6, 6-2
Most emotional comeback: Bethanie Mattek-Sands was on crutches here last year after suffering a horrific knee injury at Wimbledon. Her triumph in the mixed doubles alongside Jamie Murray was her first title since returning to competition in March
Best mixed doubles player: Jamie Murray has established himself as the world’s best performer in mixed in the last 15 months. He has played in four of the last six Grand Slam finals in mixed and won three of them. Murray’s victory with Mattek-Sands was his third title success here in the last three years following his 2016 win in the men’s doubles with Bruno Soares and his mixed doubles triumph last year alongside Martina Hingi
Oldest winner in town: Mike Bryan won a record 18th Grand Slam doubles title at the age of 40. Bryan and Jack Sock, who stepped in for his partner’s injured brother Bob, won both Wimbledon and the US Open this summer
Most bizarre moment: Alize Cornet receiving a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct for taking off her shirt on court, having realised she had put it on the wrong way round. In the furore that followed, the tournament said female players would in future be able to change their shirts on court or could leave to do so without punishment
Luckiest umpire: Mohamed Layhani was fortunate to escape with only a ticking-off after his actions during Nick Kyrgios’ match against Pierre-Hugues Herbert. With Kyrgios a set and a break down, Layhani got down from his chair and gave Kyrgios what amounted to a pep talk, upon which the Australian turned the match around
Best innovation: The on-court shot clock, ensuring that players took no more than 25 seconds between points. Not many players fell foul of it and it clearly helped to speed up play
Funniest moment: Nick Kyrgios, asked at a press conference for his best qualities, replied: “My unbelievable movement, my returns, and my mental strength”
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